FIRE crews were called to a property in Snainton yesterday evening after a large heap of manure and straw spontaneously caught fire.

Crews from Sherburn and Scarborough went to the scene following a call just after 6pm.

The fire service said that the firefighters used two hose reel jets and pitchforks to put the blaze out.

They added that "the cause is believed to be due to spontaneous combustion."

A fire spokesperson said that crews had been back this morning to damp down hotspots.

They added that it's not uncommon for muck heaps to spontaneously catch fire due to the amount of heat they generate.

The callout was at a separate location to another Snainton fire yesterday morning; an accidental fire to a horse riding arena.